The Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) has expressed concern over poor funding of research institutes in the country.
It, therefore, seeks more funding for research saying that this is imperative if the country must move from an underdeveloped to a developed nation.
As part of its own contributions, and to draw the attention of government to the issue, the union is holding a two-day round-table discussion on research funding in Abuja, where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonaya Onu, some other ministers, senators, members of the House of Representatives, and academics will meet to deliberate on effective funding of research.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary-General of ASURI, Dr Theophilus Ndubuaku, no fewer than 1,000 Nigerian researchers will converge on Abuja for the round-table discussion, which will witness an exhibition of breakthrough research works by researchers in Nigeria.
The researchers, drawn from research institutes, agencies and allied colleges in Nigeria, will meet in Abuja with the aim of mobilising the nation in support of adequate research funding.
According to Dr Ndubuaku, over 100 mandate research institutions, agencies and allied colleges, are billed to participate in the event with the theme, “Research our Hope.”
The event is being co-organised by Co-Heritage Hunters Nigeria and TF & Associates and will feature the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, as special guest of honour while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Muhammadu Musa Bello, and the minority whip in the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda, representing FCT in the Senate, are chief host and co-host respectively.
Former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe, who is also a former president of the National Academy of Science (NAS) is billed as the main speaker at the event while the chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Senator Robert Ajayi Boroface, and Senator David Umaru, the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters who sponsored the National Research and Innovation Council Bill 2018, will lead the team of the 60 Senators who co-sponsored the Bill and several other federal lawmakers from both chambers to the event.
In attendance as well will be the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonaya Onu; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe; and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and many other ministers who superintend over federal mandate research institutes and agencies.
The event is also expected to feature members of the diplomatic corps, executive directors and chief executive officers (ceos) of research institutes, director-generals (dgs) of federal agencies, captains of industry, opinion leaders and the civil society, among others.
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